Teko Modise was muscled out of the game

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AmaZulu slay Pirates

Orlando Pirates ended a disappointing 2007 on a sour note with a 1-0 Absa Premiership defeat to AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday.

It was just Usuthu’s second home win of the season, while Pirates have still only won once on the road and end the year in seventh, one point, and one place, above AmaZulu.

The only goal of the game came 19 minutes in when 21-year-old striker Dumisani Ngwenya netted his sixth of the season for Usuthu.

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi fed Ngwenya 18-yards out and with time and space to line-up the shot, he rifled the ball past a despairing Senzo Meyiwa in the Bucs goal.

The instruction from home coach Clive Barker were clear as Pirates playmaker Teko Modise came in for some rough treatment, twice having to leave the field to be attended to by medical staff.

It certainly had an affect on his performance, as instead of looking for a ball to unlock the home defence, he would release to the nearest teammate as soon as he received it.

It also meant Pirates struggled to break down the home defence, and their only real attempt on goal in the opening stanza came from a long-range effort from Lucky Lekgwathi that was comfortably saved.

Bucs coach Owen da Gama brought on top scorer Excellent Walaza for Ralph Matema, and Lebohang Mokoena for Joseph Makhanya, at halftime in a bid to change their attacking fortunes.

They managed to create a couple of half-chances in the early stages of the half, Destin Makita headed over Modise’s free-kick, while Mokoena tried his luck from range, but it was a comfortable save for Mbongeni Mzimela in the home goal.

Bucs lost skipper Lucky Lekgwathi on 50 minutes to a groin strain, the rightback being replaced by Bongani Cashibe.

At the other end Ngwenya almost collected his second goal with a fierce drive from the edge of the area that was saved by Meyiwa, and he should have made it 2-0 on 61 minutes when he was clean through on goal, but again couldn’t beat an on-rushing Meyiwa, who blocked his shot.

Barker brought on the experience of 42-year-old Shoes Moshoeu for Ngwenya with 20 minutes to go as the home side were beginning to get overrun in midfield.

And the Pirates pressure turned up a notch with 15 minutes to go and Cashibe found space on the edge of the area, but his first-time shot comfortably rose above the bar.

Keeper Mzimela was looking uncertain under the high ball in the swirling wind and although he fumbled crosses on three occasions, the ball just wouldn’t drop to a Pirates boot in the six-yard box.

Bennett Chenene tried an overhead-kick from all of 30-yards that flew high and wide, but it showed the desperation of the Pirates players, who must have begun to feel it would take some special to break Usuthu down.

There were jubilant scenes from the home side at the final whistle, while there is plenty of thinking for Da Gama to do before the League resumes mid-February.

Previous comments on this story...

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results

Anonymous

posted: 06:50 pm

Benching Walaza in favour of Ralph Matema and Masehe it was a suicidal mistake. Was it tactics or strategy?, Da Gama should take the blame for the defeat, he robbed us. It is about time that Coaches stop destroying the game by brining science into the game

Anonymous

posted: 07:07 pm

Once again Pirates with their so highly rated players like Modise, Walaza, Matema, Mokoena etc have fallen to a small team like Amazulu, what happened Dagama eeh? Can you explain please? Your pride will bring you down, you think you are the best coach, wait until the second half of the PSL. Now Pirates is 7th on the log from the 4th position. Huble yourself before you can go faster than Mutombo

Anonymous

posted: 07:08 pm

shame on Dagama

Anonymous

posted: 07:54 am

CYP; AmaZulu is not a small club as you are saying. AmaZulu are playing good football in fact for the past 16 years they have been a difficult team to beat easily. Their problem is their striking force as they seem to miss lots and lots of scoring opportunities. If you look closely Bafo Biyela that how he plays in the mildfield of Usuthu you will see that Usuthu lubuyile. They have Thabiso "Bongo" Mabaso from their mildfield. it was an oversight from Da Gama to field in his weakest team as he was undermining the Usuthu.

Anonymous

posted: 08:29 am

@sanele i agree with u Amazulu is not a small team they whipped the Leg Champs Sundowns @ Downs home ground Lofus it was so embarassing for the Champs.. so Amazulu r one of the in form teams.

For a change Barker and Faya did the right thing by leaving Shoes out. Shoes is experienced but he cannot last long because of age. AmaZulu defended well. But they should not relax this league is tough points for all teams are clustered. It is difficult to predict who is gonna win the league and who is gonna get the chop. Well done Usuthu.

Anonymous

posted: 09:08 am

On the day, AMAZULU were much better than Pirates. Teko Modise is under pressure to perform - every team targets him. I'm sure Pirates have someone who can do better than Modise, as he (Teko) needs someone to compete with. The other players may try, try & try and it's up to ODG to make a decision (and he should know that other players may not be that patient to wait for their chances. At least with defenders, strikers, goalkeepers, holding & wide midfielders he knows he has depth - and the challenge is to have that with the playmaker position. Pirates never created enough chances to trouble AmaZulu.

Anonymous

posted: 10:26 am

It is the time that people realise that amazulu are working hard to come back toglory days thanks to DR PATRICK SOKHELA.We urge everyone in the province to come surpot this club for the sake of the province and the kingdom.If you look at the pirates game we used 7 local boys from this province and mainly rural areas.they gave pirates hard times and anytime we will beat pirates.

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results

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